i am a six year old

I am a small and expressive six-year-old I just came back from India, just a trip to visit family I wear a bindi My hands are decorated with mehndhi*¹ I wear bangles on my arm of all different colors I wore a little churi daar*² And everyone teased me “She has a disease?” “Why is there a dot on your forehead?” “You look funny” A few of my friends tell me that I look pretty and they wish to wear it too. I get a few compliments but the rest hurt I never wore a bindi in front of them again I washed my hands to rid the orange stains I never wear my Indian clothes I am a not so small and not expressive sixteen-year-old I see music festivals, I see movies, I see the people who teased me when I was six They wear the dots that I had worn They decorate their hands with what they call “henna” It wasn’t an Indian holiday I’m a little hurt Why was I teased? But they are praised “It’s aesthetically pleasing?” “The bindi is indie” Do not tease me for my culture And then take it for your own praise Is that even fair? Do you think that’s fair?

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vern

24 / F / cottage by the sea

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